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OBJECTIVES OF THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM
Physician Assistant practice, as a medical profession for the 21st century, must be responsive to social needs and demands, as well as keeping pace with changing technology. In response to this challenge the faculty of the USF MCOM MPAS program emphasizes ongoing review and adaptation of educational techniques to meet the health care needs of society for today and tomorrow.
The curriculum of the program is designed to instill a caring and competent attitude of a health care professional. Principles stressed to achieve this goal include development of a strong foundation in the basic sciences relevant to the practice of clinical medicine, early exposure to patients in a clinical setting, an emphasis on active student centered learning, and the use of technology in both classroom and clinical settings. Through these principles students learn to take on progressive responsibility for patient care commensurate with their level of training. Using a competency based curriculum, student progress is tracked and assessed to ensure that graduates are ready for clinical practice.
Student progress toward these competencies is carefully monitored to determine that the fundamental knowledge of the basic sciences in relation to career goals in medicine is achieved. The first year the program, emphasis is on the basic sciences. The second year of the program emphasizes clinical training with repeated reinforcement of theme throughout the educational process. Both physician assistants Physician assistant and physician mentors in both inpatient and outpatient settings provide valuable guidance. Through this training program, students will attain established competencies related to the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values of the physician assistant. Students must not substitute for or function as instructional faculty for the program. Students cannot substitute for clinical or administrative staff during supervised clinical practical experiences. Students may act as tutors for fellow students.
To achieve these objectives, the Master’s of Physician Assistant Studies Program strives to train physician assistants who:
- Have the clinical knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate, diagnose, and manage common acute and chronic primary health care problems in the emergency, ambulatory care, and hospital setting.
- Have the ability to screen for disease and counsel patients on issues of health promotion and disease prevention.
- Have the ability to provide psychological support to patients during episodes of illness or emotional crisis.
- Utilize community health care resources in a cost effective manner.
Communicate and work effectively with other members of the health care team and the patient’s family.
Preamble
In 20062003, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) initiated an effort to define PA competencies in response to similar efforts being conducted within other health care professions and growing demand for accountability and assessment in clinical practice. The following year, representatives from three other national PA organizations, each bringing a unique perspective and valuable insights, joined NCCPA in that effort. Those organizations were the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), the body that accredits PA educational programs; the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) - formerly the Association of Physician Assistant Programs (APAP), the membership association for PA educators and program directors; and the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), the only national membership association representing all PAs.
The resultant document, Competencies for the Physician Assistant Profession, is a foundation from which each of those four organizations, other physician assistant organizations, and individual physician assistants themselves can chart a course for advancing the competencies of the PA profession. This document was updated in 2012 and approved in its current form by the same four organizations.
GeneralAcademicObjectives
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Competencies for the Physician Assistant Profession
MISSION
To provide a scholarly environment in which students from diverse backgrounds receive the requisite knowledge and skills to equip them to deliver high-quality, culturally-sensitive, and compassionate healthcare, in collaboration with physicians in an interdisciplinary healthcare team.
VISION
To achieve national prominence for excellence in developing innovative educational strategies in order to produce high-achieving graduates, who serve their communities as professional medical and research clinicians
VALUES
High Standards - In upholding the highest standards, we will:
- Demonstrate ethical leadership by example
- Conduct ourselves with integrity, avoiding conflicts of interest
- Hold our work to the highest academic standards
Respect for Individuals - In valuing respect for individuals, we pledge to:
- Treat others with respect and dignity, honoring individual differences
- Promote open communication and listen proactively
- Create collegial environment based on loyalty to our co-workers
Advancing Knowledge - In expressing our passion for learning, we encourage:
- Exploration of new ideas in our teaching and research
- The courage to meet challenges and assume risk
- Diverse learning opportunities where creativity thrives
- Interdisciplinary teamwork
- Personal Development and Leadership - Recognizing that exceptional quality begins with people, we create:
- A culture of personal development and professional fulfillment
- A workplace where expectations are matched by our reward system
- An atmosphere where people value the balance between work and family
- A mentor-rich culture where faculty, staff and students can enhance their leadership skills
- Committment Commitment to Health - Supporting our fundamental belief in the PA/patient relationship, we are committed to
- The highest quality medical care to our patients
Training the next generation of Physician Assistants to be capable and compassionate
Promoting good health and well-being in response to the needs of our community
- Our community partners who help us achieve excellence in all that we do
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REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ATTITUDES AND AND VALUES
Learning Outcomes and Expectations
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Our graduates will demonstrate entry-level proficiency as Physician Assistants in the following program Program defined learning outcomes:
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